Electric-light switch.



G. S. DELLA CERDA. ELECTRIC LIGHT SWITCH.

LED PR.16 1

m Patented Jan. 8,1918.

GIORGIA SANTOSTEFANO DELLA GERDA, OF VIAREGGIO, ITALY.

ELECTRIC-LIGHT SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 8, 1918.

Application filed April 16, 1914. Serial No. 832,342.

' To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GronorA SAN'rosrn- FANO DELLA CERDA, subject of the King of Italy, residing at No. 79 Via S. Martino, 'Viareggio, Italy, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric-Light Switches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

In electric light installations, and particularly in house installations, in the circuit is Y commonly inserted a switch, by means of which the lamps are lighted only in case of want, thus avoiding a useless and economically inconvenient waste of electric energ It often happens that the consumers of electric light are aware of the position of the switches, and also in the dark they know quite well where they are; nevertheless it frequently occurs that somebody is ignorant of that position, wherefore it may be convenient to make use of a 'signalizing means enabling to reach the switches also in the dark. This means is provided by the present invention, which consists in the employment of electrical switches provided with phosphorescent and luminous substances.

The means hitherto proposed to render electric switches visible in the dark are all connected to the movable parts of the switch and therefore they may quickly deteriorate, while the appliance according to the present invention is situated in the interior of the switch and protected by the lid of the same.

In the annexed drawing is represented as an example an embodiment of the present invention; this embodiment refers to a novel switch, and is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2,

of which- Fig. 1 is a front view, and Fig. 2 a section on line AB of Fig. 1. \Vith reference to Figs. 1 and 2 the switch has a porcelain base -a-, in which is fixed the pivot at the upper end of which by means of the plug -d is fastened the ebonite handle -0, by the aid of which is caused to turn the drum --e carrying the conducting plates which are to come into contact with the other conductin plates carried by the terminals f. 6n the base ais applied a disk h formed of a luminous or phosphorescent substance, as for instance radiumized zinc or the like phosphorous substance; thesaid disk is protected by a glass globe 7c which, while it does not prejudice the luminosity of the disk, protects also the switch, and serves particularly to insulate the inner contacts.

Instead of the disk h one may make use of a layer of phosphorescent varnish, or of a ring filled with luminous powder, having care that the outer face of said ring be transparent, or of any other suitable means. It is to be noted that the phosphorescent layer is independent from the movable parts of the switch.

The luminous substance may be renewed when its luminosity has greatly weakened.

Having now fully described this my invention, and how the same is to be carried out, I declare that what I claim is:

Copies of on: patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latenta,

Washington, D. O. 

